Making Cents – A look at What Happend In The Markets This Week
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Woman Who Lost 130 Lbs. Shares Photo of Her Loose Skin: ‘I Don’t Want to Sugarcoat Anything’
This article originally appeared on People.com.
Jordaan Spark was 250 lbs. when she married her husband, and never thought he would be able to pick her up. So when she lost 130 lbs. after two years of dedicated diet and exercise and he was able to lift her, she wanted to share the milestone on Instagram — even though this meant putting her loose skin on display.
“I’ve never had anyone pick me up since I was a kid, and I was around 250 lbs. when I reconnected with my husband, so I never would even let him try,” the Bastrop, Texas-based stay-at-home mom, 24, tells PEOPLE. “So when he picked me up with no hesitation, I was over the moon. I wanted to document it with a picture so that I could share my ‘non-scale victory’ with my weight loss community, because it’s a pretty big deal!”
The occasion happened while Spark was wearing a swimsuit, and admits she initially hesitated to share the photo.
“For a split second, I thought, ‘I can’t post this, my skin looks awful,’ but after that moment I posted it anyways because I’ve worked so hard to lose this weight,” she says. “I don’t want to sugarcoat anything. This is me and the skin I live in every day.”
Spark never expected her photo to go viral, but it now has over 48,000 likes.
RELATED: 9 Before-and-After Photos That Show Weight Is Just a Number
“I think it’s gone viral because it is so raw, and thousands of people are experiencing the same thing with weight loss and loose skin,” she says. “It kind of comes with the territory of losing over 130 lbs.!”
Spark had struggled with her weight since she was a kid, and before she decided to get healthy, she never really paid attention to what she ate.
“My diet consisted of fast food, chips, candy, soda — all the stuff that is awful for you,” she says. “I was pouring it into my body like nothing.”
It wasn’t until she had her first baby that Spark decided to change her unhealthy habits.
“I’ve always known I’ve needed to change, but wasn’t really motivated until we had our first son,” she says. “I was looking at holiday pictures, and I didn’t even recognize myself and how big I had gotten. I looked at our baby boy, broke down in tears, and said enough was enough. I’m not going to be that mom that doesn’t do anything with her kids, I wanted to be involved, I wanted to play with them and go on adventures with my family.”
Spark changed her diet, and focused on eating a diet low in carbs and high in protein.
“I eat the same thing every day: eggs, chicken, tuna, salads, broccoli, almonds and pepperoni,” she says. “I’ve learned to eat to fuel my body, as opposed to eating for pleasure.”
Before deciding she wanted to get in shape, Spark says she “was not active at all,” and her sedentary lifestyle had already begun negatively affecting her health.
“I hurt so badly — my back, knees, hips and pretty much every joint in my body,” she says. “Getting out of bed was a chore for me. I dreaded going to sleep because of how painful it was going to be in the morning.”
She slowly began easing herself into an exercise routine.
“I started doing an at-home work out DVD,” says Spark. “And I have two very active boys, so that’s my exercise lately: going on walks, playing ball in the yard, playing tag, etc. They are my exercise!”
While Spark is thrilled her husband can now pick her up, that’s just one of the reasons she’s happy with her weight loss transformation.
“The best part has been being able to play with my kids, or go on a paddleboat with my husband, or walking into a store and picking out a size that actually fits me!”
Cheese Sorghum and Shaved Squash Pilaf
Ann Pittman
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
- 12 ounce peeled butternut squash
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 8 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms
- 1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
- 1 tablespoon thyme leaves
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups cooked sorghum
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 ounces cave-aged Gruyère cheese, finely shredded
- Flat-leaf parsley and oregano leaves, optional
Preparation
Combine water and porcini in a glass measuring cup. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes. Remove porcini, reserving liquid, and finely chop. Cut squash into long, 1 1/2-inch-wide pieces. Shave into ribbons using a mandoline or vegetable peeler to yield about 6 cups. Heat a 14-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add cremini, shallots, thyme and garlic; sauté for 9 minutes. Stir in porcini, sorghum, salt and pepper. Pour in porcini liquid, stopping before grit at bottom of cup reaches opening. Arrange squash on top; cover and cook for 4 minutes. Gently stir squash into sorghum mixture; cook until most of liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with cheese; gently fold in until cheese melts. Sprinkle with parsley and oregano, if desired.
- Active:
- Total:
- Yield: Serves 8
Nutritional Information
| Calories per serving: | 197 |
|---|---|
| Fat per serving: | 8g |
| Cholesterol per serving: | 12mg |
| Fiber per serving: | 4g |
| Protein per serving: | 8g |
| Carbohydrates per serving: | 27g |
| Sodium per serving: | 282mg |
| Iron per serving: | 2mg |
| Calcium per serving: | 143mg |
What a Stress Fracture Really Feels Like, and How to Keep It From Happening to You
In October of my junior year of high school, I was at the top of my cross-country game. I was running five to six days a week, knocking more and more time off my mile split, and gearing up for a big race that would finally prove I had what it took to hit varsity status. So when opportunities arose to run a few extra miles and push myself harder, I took them without a second thought.
Then came the day of the race. I’d been noticing some pain and throbbing in my shins for a few days, but assumed I just had shin splints—something I’d dealt with many times in the past. So before my event, I popped a couple of Ibuprofen and visualized myself totally dominating the race. Spoiler: That’s not what happened.
When the race started, I took off and headed to the front of the pack. I kept up my pace as I wove through the trail, adrenaline surging through my body. That is, until about mile 1, when my runner’s high was interrupted by an excruciating pain in my left shin.
I tried to ignore it, unwilling to give up just yet. But the pain only got worse, and soon I was limping. Girls passed me left and right, but I kept hobbling my way across the grassy path until I reached the finish line and collapsed.
Fast forward through two doctor’s visits, an X-ray, and a bone scan. The verdict was that I had seven small stress fractures in my left shin.
My case is certainly nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, ABPM-certified podiatrist Melissa Lockwood, DPM, says nearly one in five runners she sees is for a stress fracture. But why do young, healthy people end up with this injury? Here, she explains what causes stress fractures, and shares tips for preventing and treating them.
RELATED: 7 Running Injuries and How to Avoid Them
What is a stress fracture?
Stress fractures are characterized as “overuse injuries.” They occur when a bone experiences repeated, unusual force, says Dr. Lockwood, who’s based in Bloomington, Illinois: “For example, when runners increase their distance and speed—basically anything that changes the amount of pressure they’re putting on the body.”
Dr. Lockwood typically sees these injuries happen in the metatarsals, which are the small bones right behind your toes, and the lower leg (as in my case). According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, more than 50% occur in the lower leg.
While stress fractures are associated with running, “they can also be caused by regular force, if the bones are weakened by other problems, such as osteoporosis or another systematic problem like an eating disorder,” adds Dr. Lockwood. Research suggests women are more susceptible, possibly because they’re more prone to the above-mentioned conditions.
But really, stress fractures can affect anyone. Dr. Lockwood got one in her foot after walking around Disney World all day. (See her X-rays below.)
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What are the symptoms of a stress fracture?
“The biggest thing is to watch for increased pain with increased activity,” says Dr. Lockwood. “Meaning it doesn’t hurt so badly first thing in the morning, but then the more you’re on it throughout the day, or after you go for a run, the pain gets worse, even excruciating.”
Unlike a strain or pull, the ache associated with stress fractures doesn’t tend to resolve itself after a couple of days, or go away with rest. So if you still feel a throbbing pain after sitting down, that’s also pretty good indicator.
But diagnosing a stress fracture can get a bit tricky: “Typically you can’t see a stress fracture on an X-ray until two weeks after the initial injury.” For that reason doctors often order other tests, like an MRI or bone scan, to identify the injury.
If a patient describes stress fracture symptoms, Dr. Lockwood always treats it as one, she says, unless she figures out an alternative explanation.
RELATED: 4 Ways to Ward Off Shin Splints
How can you prevent a stress fracture?
Once you’ve had one stress fracture, it puts you at greater risk for another, says Dr. Lockwood. [Insert un-amused emoji here] But luckily, there are a number of smart strategies you can use to keep your bones healthy.
For starters, invest in solid sneakers. If you’re a runner, head to a running store and find a pair that works optimally for your stride and foot type.
It’s also crucial to retire your shoes after a certain amount of use, Dr. Lockwood warns. Either toss them based on time (no more than 6 months) or miles (no more than 300).
And whether you’re an athlete or not, if you’ve suffered a stress fracture in the past, you may want to consider getting custom orthotics to make sure you’re moving with the right biomechanics, says Dr. Lockwood.
At the time of my own injury, I was stupidly wearing a pair of sneakers that were past their expiration date. So please, don’t make the same mistake, and actually pay attention to your shoes!
[brightcove:4874670933001 default]Don’t get discouraged
After my injury, I felt really down. I worried that my body wasn’t cut out for running, and that this was a sign I needed to throw in the towel.
But as Dr. Lockwood puts it, “having stress fractures does not mean your running career is over.” It may mean you need to change how you’re training, whether that’s adjusting the distance or frequency of your runs, or running on softer surfaces (think grass vs. concrete).
For me, getting back into running entailed everything Dr. Lockwood mentioned: scaling back my runs, paying better attention to my form, and regularly swapping out my shoes. Today running is still a huge part of my lifestyle. I even run-commute to work sometimes. But I’m much better about listening to my body now, and taking notice when it needs a break.
If you sense that something is off with your body, “don’t sit and wait to get it checked,” says Dr. Lockwood. “Or rather, don’t run and wait.”
Dairy Farm Manger
SENIOR DAIRY FARM MANAGER MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Diploma/Degree in Agriculture At least 6-8 years’ experience on a pasture based dairy farm Fluent in English and Afrikaans – Xhosa/Zulu advantageous Fodder flow planning Pasture management experience Dairy management experience Great stockmanship Computer literate – MS Office essential Knowledge of Afikem and 4th Quadrant systems TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL NEED: A proven ability to manage pastures and the ability to achieve excellent utilization The capability to manage the breeding of a fully seasonal herd and achieve excellent breeding results Telling stockmanship – mature and immature herds Evident ability to manage a dairy and achieve excellent milk quality results Be computer literate with knowledge of Afikem and 4th Quadrant Sound communication skills to work with and motivate/manage a large work force Effective time management skills with the ability to priorities tasks and problem solve The competence to understand and work within farm budgets Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be considered Please submit and upload your CV in Word format via our website www.dynamictalent.co.za or email susan@dynamictalent.co.za CLOSING DATE: 29 May 2017
To apply for this vacancy please access this job advert on a desktop computer.
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Assistant Floor Manager
We are looking for an Assistant Manager for a retail business in Kingwilliamstown. The successful candidate will be hard working, have excellent customer service skills and the ability to handle pressure. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Valid driver's license At least 4 years' relevant experience Knowledge and experience of employee management Physically fit with the ability to work long hours on your feet Good work ethic Strong communication skills If you are hardworking and have a passion for retail and can work the hours required of the industry please apply?
News24.com | ‘If drought continues, more farmers will close shop’
Bothaville – If the drought continues unabated, it could see more farmers close shop, CEO of Free State Agriculture, Henk Vermeulen, said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the Free State Agriculture stand at the Nampo Harvest Day festival in Bothaville, Vermeulen said the drought had had a severe impact on the farming community, especially in the Free State.
“We are very glad for the rain that has come, and the current situation. But as a result of the drought, the position of farmers has deteriorated in terms of their financial position, especially if you look at the amount of cattle that has had to be sold as a result of the drought.
“Now there is a shortage of cattle and sheep, to such an extent that the person who is buying meat is going to pay the price now.”
Vermeulen said he also believed that government’s assistance had come a little too late.
“It did not come quick enough, and this is the exactly the result. People on the streets are paying the price for all the cattle and the sheep that has been slaughtered because there was no grazing for them.”
He said the province had also seen a shortage of maize.
“As a result of that, a lot of people that were feeding chickens could not pay the price of the high maize price that was instituted because of the shortage.”
He said what further perpetuated the situation was “the dumping of chickens in South Africa from Europe”.
“It was so difficult that a lot of people had to close down. Those are the effects of the drought.”
‘Input costs rising, prices are down’
He said when one looked at the input costs of a farmer, the debt carried over to next year.
“It will cost him about R4m to R5m on a small farm just to get the input costs, and if you do not get any rain you have got nothing, you are stuck with a debt of R3m, so there are a lot of people whose financial position is in dire straits.
“Some farmers could arrange to carry on this year. It looks good, but the prices are down… The drought is an extremely difficult thing for the farmers.
“It will take, for certain veld, four to five years to restore. It looks good from the road, the grass is high, but when you go close to look at what type of grass it is, you will find that it is not quality grass.”
Vermeulen said the country needed to analyse the drought situation.
“We need to look at the warning systems, we are not in an African country where there is a lot of water. This is extremely difficult, but you know that farmers are extremely hopeful beings, we carry on in hope that everything will be fine. We know that the Western Cape is in a difficult position, similar to that which we were in last year, so we are happy to be in a better position, right now.”
If the drought continued, Vermeulen said more farmers would leave the industry.
“Farming will not be profitable anymore, it in itself is not really profitable… The input costs are rising, but the prices are down. A lot of people do not understand the mechanics of farming, it is not always good times, there are also bad times.”
‘If the farmers close down, then the towns close down’
Vermeulen said many farmers had to stop farming because they could not take the financial burden anymore.
“Insurance companies refused to ensure certain crops in certain areas because it was too risky.”
He said many emerging farmers went out of business because they also could not handle the effects of the drought.
“Their cattle died and there was no grazing and there was no assistance. We are a little bit scared for this coming year because it will take the farmers about four to five years, good years, to restore, otherwise, a few more others will move out.”
Vermeulen said this had a negative effect on food security.
“South Africa is perhaps the only country that has a farming community that is not being subsidised by the government. All the other governments around the world are protecting their farmers and their crops, making sure that they are on their farms.”
He said South Africa needed to consider subsidising farmers.
“On the one side, we need new entrants, but do not bring in a new entrant if they are not going to survive. On the other hand, if there are guys that are doing well, keep them there, in terms of food security.”
He said the drought did not only affect the farmers but the neighbouring rural communities and towns that depended on farmers.
“If the farmers close down, then the towns close down,” said Vermeulen.
News24.com | Nothing will bring Courtney back – Fikile Mbalula
Cape Town – The man accused of killing three-year-old Courtney Pieters should die in jail, Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula said on Thursday.
“He is defended by the law and the child is burned. And we know nothing will bring Courtney back,” Mbalula said.
“Hierdie (verdagte) moordernaar moet in die prison sterf [This alleged murderer must die in prison],” he said at a memorial service for Pieters in the Elsies River Civic Centre.
Pieters was last seen alive on May 4. Her body was found in a shallow grave next to unused railroad tracks in Epping Industria on Saturday afternoon.
The civic centre was filled to capacity with roughly 800 community members. Outside the building, community members peaked through open doors to try and hear what was being said inside.
Mbalula said the South African society is sick because of murders such as this taking place.
“The person doing this to your child could be your uncle, your friend your brother. We are a sick society, ons is baie siek,” he said.
During a visit to the Pieters’ family home on Thursday afternoon, President Jacob Zuma criticised the response of police to Pieters’ murder.
Better policing promised
Mbalula on Thursday evening promised that policing will be improved in the area.
“I want to say to you the people of Elsies River, the police station in Elsies River will never be the same again,” he said to cheers from the audience.
He promised that a satellite police station will be built in the area.
“We will make it unbearable wherever they are. Their lives must not be easy,” Mbalula said.
“We serve our people; it is not a favour, it is our job.”
Western Cape social development MEC Albert Fritz echoed Mbalula’s statements, saying police should always be ready to help communities.
“When we come to the police station with a case, please whether we are poor, acknowledge us, take up our concerns,” he said.
‘Organise’
Fritz said organised communities will combat violence against women and children.
“You know, during the 1980’s, at the height of the uprisings, when people stood up against apartheid, the gangsters disappeared because we the people were organised, the people were united,” he said.
Mortimer Saunders was arrested on Sunday evening for Pieters’ murder. He is accused of raping her twice before killing her. He is believed to have rented a room in Pieters’ family home.
Members of Courtney’s family, Aaron Fourie, Andrea and Juanita Pieters (Courtney’s mother), at the memorial service. (Romantha Botha, Netwerk24)
Ward councillor Charles Esau said Pieters’ death brought the world to a standstill.
“Courtney’s death brought us together. Courtney was not a child that came out of a mansion. She did not travel in luxurious cars; she came out of an ordinary family,” he said.
“Courtney’s death brought unity to Elsies River, I want to tell you for an ordinary child that was not well known in the community, this world – not this country – but this world was brought to a halt by her.”
Monument
He said a monument should be erected in her honour.
“I want to tell you that we have to erect monuments for Courtney. We have to erect monuments there where people that still want to do this can look at the monuments and say ‘we won’t do it’,” Esau told the audience.
Community member Damian Koetzee agreed with Esau, saying naming public property after her will help spread awareness.
“Our children can then write essays over the issue of Courtney so that our history and legacy of Courtney is not forgotten,” he said.
Trauma counsellor Wilde van Reenen told the audience that 65 family members have been counselled in the Western Cape since January for family violence.
“We cannot continue counselling, and debriefing, and waiting for the next child to die. We refuse to do that. We refuse to see our mothers go out in search parties, to look for children when they should be at home for their own children,” she said.
Van Reenen said they are in talks with Western Cape Premier Helen Zille to establish a commission of enquiry into the safety of children in communities.
“How do we prevent another Courtney, how do we prevent another memorial?” she ended her speech.
eNCA | DA wants answers from Davies on General Motor’s exit of SA market
JOHANNESBURG – General Motors’ announcement on Thursday, that it was withdrawing its manufacturing facilities from the South African market is a vote of no confidence in government’s leadership of the economy, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said.
DA’s spokesperson on trade and industry, Geordin Hill-Lewis, said GM’s withdrawal was just one of a growing list of foreign investors who are losing confidence in South Africa’s struggling economy.
“The DA will now write to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, to call on him to act decisively in order to prevent further potential job losses as a result of foreign investors pulling out of the country’s automotive sector,” Hill-Lewis said in a statement.
“The DA will also request that the Minister report back to Parliament on what the specific reasons are for GM deciding to withdraw from South Africa, and possible solutions to bring this concerning trend to an end.”
According to General Motors (GM) South Africa (Pty), it is withdrawing because the South Africa can no longer “provide GM with the expected returns of other global investment opportunities”.
As a result, production and sales of all Chevrolet models will cease, and Isuzu will take over the firm’s operations in Port Elizabeth. Isuzu will also be taking over the parts centre because it will be manufacturing trucks and commercial vehicles.
GM currently employs 2,000 South Africans at its plant in Port Elizabeth, their withdrawal is likely to threaten the livelihoods of these workers.
Hill-Lewis said government had failed to create a climate conducive to attracting investment but was going out of its way to chase investment away.
“The Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba has failed to strengthen investor confidence in our economy,” Hill-Lewis said.
“The captured and ineffectual [African National Congress] ANC government with its empty slogans have completely destroyed our economic prospects, and ordinary South Africans, particularly the poor and vulnerable, are left to bear the brunt.”
Meanwhile, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) said it was “shocked at the news” that GM intends to pull the plug on its operations in South Africa, saying that there was no consultation with the union.
Davies on Thursday said he has learnt of the announcement by General Motors (GM) South Africa (Pty)Ltd to cease some of their operations in South Africa with “regret and concern”.
African News Agency